Hubert Laurence Batt

Hubert Laurence Batt

Personal Information
Date of Birth	28 Jan 1902
Place of Birth	Armadale, Western Australia
Death	19 Mar 1975, aged 73
Place of Death	Ballingup, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	39 years, 4 months
Occupation	Farm hand
Religion	Church of England
Address	Dandaragan, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Brother , Mr William Joseph Batt
Military Information
Reg Number	WX13190
Date of Enlistment	17 May 1941
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	2/1st Australian Headquarters Guard Battalion
Military Movement
1st Departure from Australia
Journey Dates	9 Sep 1941 ‒ 23 Sep 1941
Transport Details	HMT Queen Mary Fremantle to Port Tewfik
Return to Australia
Journey Dates	19 Feb 1942 ‒ 28 Mar 1942
Transport Details	HMT Rajula Port Tewfik to Adelaide
2nd Departure from Australia
Journey Dates	3 Sep 1943 ‒ 6 Sep 1943
Transport Details	HMT Katoomba Townsville to Port Moresby
Return to Australia
Journey Dates	12 Dec 1943 ‒ 14 Dec 1943
Transport Details	unknown Port Moresby to Townsville
3rd Departure from Australia
Journey Dates	10 Mar 1944 ‒ 132 Mar 1944 "132 Mar 1944" contains a sequence that could not be interpreted against an available match matrix for date components.
Transport Details	SS Canberra Townsville to Port Moresby
Return to Australia
Journey Dates	26 Sep 1945 ‒ 26 Sep 1945
Transport Details	plane Nadzab to Townsville
Post War Details
Fate	Returned to Australia

Pre War

Electoral Roll entries: 1925 - 1931 Tambellup, labourer. Was listed as in Dandaragan in the 1941-42 Post Office Directory.

War Service

Hubert enlisted in the 2nd AIF on 17 May 1941 at Claremont and was sent to Northam's 1st Training Battalion. On 10 Jun 1941 he had complete basic drill training and was allocated to reinforcements for the 2/11th Australian Infantry Battalion. Granted pre-embarkation leave from 14 to 21 Jul 1941 he embarked for the Middle East aboard HMT Queen Elizabeth in Fremantle on 9 Sep 1941, disembarking in Port Tewfik on 23 Sep 1941, and he was sent to join the 19th Australian Infantry Training Battalion.

On 4 Nov 1941 Hubert was posted to the Australian HQ Guard Battalion, most likely a member of E Company which provided protection for 1st Australian Corps HQ. On 19 Feb 1942 Hubert embarked on HMT Rajula in Port Tewfik for Adelaide where he disembarked on 28 Mar 1942. He was granted leave from 20 Apr until 7 May 1942. Following leave he reported back to his Company which was now in New South Wales. On 12 Jan 1943 Hubert entrained for Queensland joining C Company of the the newly raised 2/1st Austalian Headquarters Guard Battalion on 10 Mar 1943. On 3 Sep 1943 Hubert embarked on HMT Katoomba for Port Moresby, disembarking on 6 Sep 1943 and was now posted to D Company. On 12 December 1943 Hubert embarked in Port Moresby for Townsville where he disembarked on 14 Dec 1943 and proceeded to Western Australia to enjoy 24 days leave.

He returned from leave on 29 Jan 1944, and on 10 Mar 1944 embarked on SS Canberra in Townsville for Port Moresby where he disembarked on 13 Mar 1944. The role of his unit no longer required, on 26 Sep 1944 he emplaned in Nadzab, New Guinea for Townsville, and from there proceeded by train to Western Australia. On 8 Oct 1944 he was in the Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot's Returnees Depot for reposting. On 21 Nov 1944 he was transferred to the 10th Australian Garrison Battalion. However, on 22 Dec 1944 he was returned to the Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot's Discharge Unit to be discharged on Essential Services grounds, and this occurred on 27 Dec 1944.

Post War

Electoral Roll entries: 1958 - 1963 at 45 Albert street Bellevue, labourer; 1968 - 1972 at Teede street, Balingup, retired

Notes

See The Unit Guide - Volume 2 - The Australian Army 1939-1945, pages 2.441 to 2.450 - Graham R McKenzie-Smith - Big Sky Publishing - 2018 for detailed explanation of HQ Defence units.